Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged workers in the country to vote out governors in the forthcoming general elections who are not willing to approve N30,000 as the new national minimum.

This was the massage of the NLC president, comrade Ayuba Wabba while addressing the representative of Yobe state governor after leading a peaceful protest, demanding immediate implementation of the new national minimum wage in Damaturu today, Tuesday.

Represented by Comrade Nuhu Toro, coordinator of the peaceful demonstration, the president in his words said, “Once again I salute Nigerian workers and people of Yobe for making it to the new year.

“It was our legitimate expectation that we would be celebrating the new year with a new national minimum wage, but unfortunately and sadly the Nigerian government and at all levels have conspired to rob workers their legitimate right to decent wage and dignified existence.

Comrade Wabba informed the representative of the state chief executive that, the peaceful demonstration was taking place simultaneously across the 36 of the federation including FCT Abuja in order to sensitize workers on the need for immediate payment of N30,000 minimum wage.

” We had a protracted negotiation with all stakeholders including ‘Governors’ Forum’. The forum had six representatives in the tripartite committee that negotiated N30,000 new minimum wage. But sadly, we thought Nigerian workers would enjoy the benefit of the new national minimum wage before December 2018, unfortunately, it has been dragged to January 2019.

“We just thought that it is an opportunity for us to sensitize workers on the need to ensure that they are made aware to shine their eyes very well. Any state government that is not capable of paying N30,000 minimum wage, in 2019, they should vote him out”, he advised.

Responding, Governor Gaidam represented by Head of Service, Hassan Usman Maraya had assured the protesting workers that the state government is doing something about the new minimum wage on its part in consultation with other governors since its a national issue.

He assured them that their demands would be genuinely considered for necessary action while appreciating the workers’ contributions, patience, understanding and commitment to the state.

The protest which began from the phase one secretariat in Damaturu and was terminated at the governor’s office thereby compelling the metropolis to stand still with workers carrying placards with various inscriptions such as :”new minimum wage no going back, Nigeria workers demand a living wage, ”president Buhari lead us well”, ”vote out governors that cannot pay N30,000 in February, ” N30,000 minimum wage non-negotiable” etc.